Aim. In our present work, we have addressed to the γ-catenin, known main component of desmosomes, expression in hearts with heterozygous and homozygous knockout of α-E-catenin gene. Methods. Alpha-E-catenin conditional knockout mice were bred with α-MHC-Cre transgenic mice. We analyze expression of γ-catenin with real time qPCR and Western blot. Results. Cardiac α-E-catenin deletion leads to downregulation of γ-catenin mRNA and protein levels only in homozygous mice, while we not observed any perturbation of γ-catenin expression in heterozygous mice. Conclusions. We have shown that homozygous knockout of α-E-catenin gene in embryonic heart occur reduction of the main component of desmosomes – γ-catenin mRNA and protein level of expression, which can lead to disruption of the desmosomes structure in adult myocardium. Keywords: α-E-catenin, heart failure, γ-catenin.

Aim. The aim was to estimate the influence of cell suspension quality on the therapeutic efficiency of cell-containing dermal coverages in animal model in vivo. Methods. We carried out the application of gel wound coverages with different quality of cellular compound on the third degree burns of ICR line mice. In the negative control group animals were treated with fresh medium-containing gel, and in positive control – by gel containing high quality cell suspension. Photo fixation of burn wound status was carried out once a day. The results were estimated by ANOVA approach. Results. There was a statistically significant difference of burn wounds development and healing between positive control and both experimental groups. The decreasing of alive cell fraction in prepared gel within 5 hours has been shown as well. Conclusions. It has been shown the dependence of wound healing properties of coatings containing cells on the cell compound quality, in particular, from the viability and integrity of cells. These results are important for developing of clinical protocols using such cell‑containing dermal equivalents. Keywords: burn wound, dermal equivalent, stem cells, skin substitute, tissue engineering.

Aim. The aim was to estimate the efficiency of cell-containing and non-cellular dermal coverages in animal model in vivo. Methods. We carried out the application of gel wound coverages with three different cell lines and cultural medium conditioned by these cells on the third degree burns of ICR line mice. In the control group animals were treated with fresh medium-containing gel. Photo fixation of burn wound status was carried out once a day. The results were estimated by ANOVA approach. Results. There was a statistically significant difference of burn wounds development and healing within three experimental groups treated with cell suspensions of different lines. Cell-free gels with media conditioned by these cells were shown to be effective as well. Conclusions. It has been shown the dependence of wound healing properties of coatings containing cells from the origin of these cells. The effectiveness of these coverages is supposed to be intermediated by biologically active substances secreted by the cells.Keywords: burn wound, dermal equivalent, stem cells, skin equivalent, skin substitute, tissue engineering.

HETEROZYGOS ELETION OF β-CATENIN IN EARLY CARDIOGENESIS ATTENUATED THE HEART GROWTH AND AFFECTED ON CANONICAL WNT KINETICSAim. In our present work, we have analyzed newborn and embryonic heart under the β-catenin haploinsufficiency. Methods. Beta-catenin conditional knockout mice were bred with α-MHC-Cre transgenic mice. In such way we generate the β-catenin haploinsufficient new born (P1-2) and embryonic hearts (E12,5 an E14,5) With rtPCR using we analyze the canonical WNT signalling kinetics in embryonic and newborn hearts. Namely we have analyzed the level of TСF-4, Axin2, c-Fos and CyclinD2 genes expression .Beside of this we have studied the γ-catenin gene expression under normal and β-catenin haploinsufficient conditions. Results. Cardiac β-catenin knockout leads attenuated newborn heart growth and associated with γ-catenin expression up-regulation. Canonical Wnt signalling activated in later cardiogenesis (E12,5-14,5) in WT heart and downregulated in newborns. Conclusions. We have shown the importance of canonical Wnt during later cardiogenesis. Thus β-catenin haploinsufficiency leads to violation of WNT kinetic in latter embryos and attenuated the heart growth.